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Abductor digiti minimi muscle flap in reconstruction of diabetic foot ulcers: A case series

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European Journal of Plastic Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), a leading cause of amputations, affect 15 % of people with diabetes. Wound coverage in these patients is changelling due to concurrent infection, neuropathy and vascular compromise. Though local muscle flaps were described by Ger et al. and popularized by Attinger et al., these small muscle flaps should be more routinary than they are now.

Methods

A retrospective review of all patients with DFUs with exposed bone and osteomyelitis reconstructed by abductor digiti minimi muscle flaps and free skin grafting between January 2010 and December 2011 was conducted.

Results

This study included eight patients. Six patients had ulcers over the heel and two on the lateral aspect of the forefoot. All flaps survived well with no donor site complications. There was partial loss of skin graft in three cases and infection and total loss in one other case.

Conclusions

Abductor digiti minimi is a safe and reliable flap that provides a durable cover.

Level of evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study.

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Conflict of interest

None declared.

Ethical standards

This study has been approved by the appropriate ethics committee and have therefore been performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments.

All persons gave their informed consent prior to their inclusion in the study.

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Correspondence to S. S. Shirol.

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Shirol, S.S., Nimbaragi, G., Prabhu, M. et al. Abductor digiti minimi muscle flap in reconstruction of diabetic foot ulcers: A case series. Eur J Plast Surg 37, 227–232 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-013-0923-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-013-0923-3

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